Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman announces the continued growth of its Consumer Financial Services, Data and Technology (CFS+) Practice Group with returning partner Dennis Lueck, who rejoined the Denver office on June 20.
"Every month our CFS+ team continues growing with talented, experienced lawyers and other professionals embracing our commitment to exceptional client service," said William P. Heller, founder and chair of CFS+. "Dennis is a great example—a trusted colleague returning to build with us to meet industry demand and pursue our vision for service and results."
Lueck represents a wide array of financial services companies in federal and state litigation and arbitration. This includes large volume portfolio management to high stakes individual cases and class actions. He is particularly experienced defending claims under RESPA, TILA, FCRA, FDCPA and TCPA. Lueck also has extensive, national experience defending mortgage lenders, investors, servicers and other financial services providers against alleged violations of federal and state consumer protection laws, assertions of wrongful debt collection and foreclosure, complex lien priority disputes, theories of lending fraud and deceptive practices and statute of limitations defenses.
CFS+ litigators are known for their trial experience, and Lueck is no exception. He has tried more than 30 civil cases to verdict on numerous subjects in federal, state and ADR venues. He audits, develops and enhances processes within applicable regulatory and compliance frameworks, while counseling clients on responses to regulatory inquiries and litigation avoidance.
"I've continued applying the skills I learned as part of this team previously," Lueck commented. "I'm thrilled to be returning to Akerman, CFS+ and my colleagues here. There's so much growth and opportunity happening and our team is perfectly positioned for it."
CFS+ is built on Akerman's long experience representing the financial services sector. The CFS+ team, serving clients in all 50 states and internationally, handles legal matters involving litigation, arbitration, compliance, regulatory enforcement, licensing, payment technologies, cryptocurrencies, privacy and data security.
Lueck returns during a time of significant growth for the practice group. Its litigators are being called upon to partner with in house counsels managing portfolio risk and handling high stakes litigation and arbitration, including taking cases to jury verdicts and final judgments. The group's financial technology, privacy, cybersecurity and compliance capabilities have widened with many recent hires, including partner Nora Rigby in Washington, D.C. Rigby served almost 10 years in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office of Regulations, most recently as Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel. She became one of 3 senior lawyers from the CFPB based in Akerman's Washington, D.C., office, along with former Senior Counsel Thomas Kearney and former Managing Counsel Eric Goldberg.
Partner Christy Hawkins in Dallas further strengthened the experienced CFS+ team, supporting clients with privacy and cybersecurity issues, while partners Adam Ragan in Dallas and Aliza Malouf in Washington, D.C., deepened the firm's experience in financial services litigation and compliance.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world's most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities and help drive innovation and growth.
Akerman's CFS+ Practice Group represents mortgage loan originators, servicers and investors in class and individual lawsuits, bankruptcy adversary cases, contested foreclosures and regulatory compliance matters. In addition, the group concentrates on repurchase and recovery litigation, with emphasis on investigating and prosecuting origination fraud by working closely with federal and state regulators and law enforcement. The Akerman CFS+ team includes more than 100 lawyers and other legal professionals, with a platform for national litigation outsourcing, case management and coordination, including direct litigation through the firm's 24 offices.